The Ireland head coach, Joe Schmidt, conceded the Six Nations title after his side suffered their heaviest defeat to Wales in 34 years. Touts who bought dozens of tickets for next Saturday’s game with England in Dublin, which had been billed as a title-decider, face being out of pocket.
Ireland would have a mathematical chance of winning the championship if Scotland defeat England at Twickenham and then lost at home to Italy, but Schmidt is focusing on finishing in the top half of the table.
“We are no longer in the hunt for the championship, but there is still a lot for us to play for in what has been, as we expected at the start, a very competitive Six Nations,” said Schmidt. “We will be going all out to finish with a win.”
If England defeat Scotland, they will be travelling to Dublin looking for what would be a record, 19th consecutive Test victory for a Tier One nation.
In November, New Zealand looked to make it 19 in Chicago only to lose to Ireland.
“Next week is about converting our frustration tonight into something positive, not denying someone else,” said Schmidt after the 22-9 defeat.
“There was a lot to take from this performance against a very good Wales side and we were very close to taking the lead with 10 minutes to go that would have forced them to chase the game.
“It comes down to fine margins at this level. We had opportunities but did not take them and Wales defended very well. They scored their first two tries when Jonathan Sexton was off the field and, playing at home on Saturday in front of our fans, we need to deliver.”
The Ireland scrum-half, Conor Murray, a contender for the British & Irish Lions Test team in New Zealand, left the field early in the second half with a shoulder injury which Schmidt described as a stinger. He is expected to be fit for selection against England.
The Wales interim head coach, Robert Howley, hailed the result as a reward for the way his players had responded to defeats to England and Scotland.
“They were outstanding,” he said. “To score three tries against a side as good as Ireland is an achievement, but so was not conceding one.
“We have to move on from this. We were under pressure, but we have experienced players. We felt we should have beaten England here and what we needed was an 80-minute performance. We got it,” Howley said.
Wales failed to score a point in the second half in Scotland and managed only three against England. They cut short their half-time in the dressing room, returning to the field early and forming a huddle. “We thought it could help us and it gave us energy,” added Howley.
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